Trump Administration Plans Massive Cuts to State Department, Including Near-Total Elimination of Africa Operations

The Trump administration is planning a dramatic overhaul of the State Department, including the near-complete elimination of its Africa operations, according to a report in the New York Times, as per Bloomberg.

The newspaper cited a draft executive order that could be signed as early as this week.

The draft order proposes the closure of numerous embassies and consulates across the African continent. The current Bureau of African Affairs, responsible for overseeing policy in sub-Saharan Africa, would be replaced by a significantly smaller special envoy office. This new office would report directly to the White House National Security Council and focus on a limited number of priorities, primarily coordinated counter-terrorism efforts.

The sweeping changes extend beyond Africa. The report also indicates that bureaus focused on democracy, human rights, and refugee issues are slated for closure.

The planned restructuring is expected to be accompanied by significant staff reductions, with the potential for layoffs affecting both career diplomats and civil service employees, according to current and former US officials quoted in the Times article.

The State Department and the White House National Security Council did not immediately respond to the newspaper’s request for comment on Sunday.